Journal box



Oct. 11, 1932. G COUCH 1,882,066

JOURNAL BOX Filed May 12, 192 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 11, 1932. ca. F.COUCH 1,882,066

JOURNAL BOX Fi led May 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 19 32. G COUCH1,882,066

JOURNAL BOX Filed May 12, 6" v 4 Sheets-Sheet s G. F. COUCH Oct. 11,1932.

JOURNAL BOX Filed May 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 11, 1932UNITED ST TES PAT F GLENN r. coocn, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, Assrcnon 'roTHE smmsron comrenz onnnw YORK, 1v. Y.,:A cortroim'rron orv MAR ANDJOURNAL BOX Application filed May 12, 1926. Serial No. 108,511; 7

This invention relates to j ournal boxes for railway cars, and moreparticularly to the construction of spring-actuated journal box lids.

The principal object ofthe invention, gen- ,erally considered, is theprovision of what may be designated as an articulated lid constructionpivoted to the .journal box by means of a hinge pin which may be held inplace by special locking tabs or be only adapted'for insertion orremoval when the members comprising the articulated lid are positionedin given angular relation with respect to each other, which relation isother than the normal operative relation between said members.

An object of my invention is the provision of a journal box lid with aspring retainer articulated with respect thereto, said lid and retainerbeing pivoted'to the'journal box and with respect tofeach other by meansof a selflocking pin which is only adapted for longitudinal movementinto or out of normal position when said spring retainer and lid occupya given angular relation with respect to each other.

Another object of myinvention is the provision of an articulatedjournalbox lid domprising a lid'proper, a spring retainer, a

springJheld' therebetween for looking or holding said members in normaloperative relation, and a hinge pin or pintle for pivotally connectingsaid members, said pintle being provided with a portion so formed thatlongitudinal movement thereof is prevented when the lid and retainer arepositioned in normal operative relation, but permitted when one of saidmembers is rotated a predetermined amount with respect to the other.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an articulatedjournal box lid including a spring retainer which normally holds aspring in energized position with respect to said lid, whereby saidspring serves to hold said lid .in either open orclosed position andlock said retainer in normal position with respect to said lid, aself-locking pintle connecting said lid and spring retainer,

whereby said members are normally held in rotative relation and loss orremoval of said pintleisprevented except when the retainer is moved fromnormal operative relation with respect to the lid so that withdrawal ofthe pintle is permitted.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of anarticulated journal box lid consisting of a cl'osuremember, a springretainenand a spring held in energized position therebetween and servingto lock said members in normal operative relation with respect to eachother, and a, pintleor hinge pin for pivotally connecting said members,a portion of said pin being non-circular or of flattened formation sotlnit pivotal: motion with respect to the sprlng retainer ispre vented,o-neof the dimensions of the flattened portion being greater than one ofthe 'dimenj sions of the hinge loops on thelid whereby insertion orwithdrawal of the pin is prevented exceptwhen the retainer occupies agiven angular relation with respect to the lid.

Other objectsand advantages, pertaining to the various elements andcombinations thereof, will become apparent as the description proceeds.r j

In the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof isdefined'bylthe claims Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partlyinsection, of a portion of the lid, showing the parts in assembledrelation.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectionalview on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows. 7 3

Figure 3 is a sideelevational view of a portion of the lid and springretainer when said spring retainer is positioned forinsertion. orwithdrawal ofthehinge pin.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the lid and'springretainer when in normal operative relation with respect to each other. I1

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows. j Figure 6 is a front elevational viewof a line 7-7 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.-

Figure 8 is a front elevational View of another modified formof lid andspring retainer therefor.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view onthe line 9 9 of Figure 8,lo,okingin therdirjection ofth'e arrows;

box, designated by the reference character 1, is illustrated provided.on its upper, sur,

face 2 and adjacent theforward edge thereof,

' the journal box 1.

with'a hinge lug 3,"which'is lperforated at .4, for the passage of'ahinge bolt or pintle 5 therethrough.

' The journal box is preferably of standard A. R. A. construction andthe lug thereon is provided at its front and topwith flat faces 6 and'7,respectively, for cooperation With a spring-pressed portion carried by"the" lid: 8

of pressed metal and provided with hinge loops or ears-9 and 10surrounding the ends of the hinge pin 5, wh'erebythe same is maintainedin pivotal relation with respect to A spring retainer 11, formedwithcooperating' ear or loop portions 12 and 13, also surrounding the'pintle5 for pivotally connecting the retainer with the journall box" and alsowith the lid 8,'is' provided Between the retainer 11 and the Ilid8 ispositioned a spring 14 which isheld byIsaidretainer in energizedposition, whereby said spring is adaptedfor resiliently holding the Ylid in either open -or-closed position. illustrated, said springpreferably comprises a plurality of coiled portions 15and' 16, oined.

,by'a relatively straight-portion 17 upon which, in the embodimentshown,-is mounted a roller 18 which engagesthe-hinge lug 3 andalternately -pre'ss1es'againstthe faces 6 and? thereof when the lid-"isin closed and open positions, respectively.v Y

The ends of 'the'spring 14 may extend downwardly and be bent toward,each other at 19 and 20, where-theyare retainedin piv-. otal relationwith respect to the; lid 8 by means of a clamping device 21, preferablysecurely fastened to'the lid by means of a rivet 22. When the springmember is free, a

v as when the'r etainer is moved away from the lid 8, the roller '18does not function to hold the lid in the desired relation with respectto thejournal box. When, however, thespring retainer -11 is mOVed'totheposition'shown in Figure 2, the curved surface or surfaces '23 thereonengage the coils 15 and 16 0f the spring and move the sametonormal open;ative position, where said spring is lockedin a. erablyiperforatedatf26and2 Referring first to the construction illus- -trated in Figures 1 to5, inclusive, a journal 7 spring retainer 11, the same is provided witha relatively long operating arm which extends well beyond the clampingdevice 21 on the lid 8 so as to'providea relatively large leverage foroperating the spring retainer by hand to or fromthe position shown in Figure 2. The operating lever or'arm 25is pref- 7,, forlightening' theweight thereof and providing aper- -tures in which an operating bar maybe inserted, 1f desired, for more conveniently movlng the sprlngretainerto energize or deenergize 'the spring 14.

"The pintle or hinge pin 5 is'so constructed that it is what may bedesignated as selfa 7 locking. That is, it may only be positionedorremoved when the spring retainer ll occupies a given angular relationwithrespec t jto the lid 8, which'angu-lar relationfis that il-hlustrated in Figure 3; The hinge pin'or pin-f tle, for this purpose, isformed with a flat-' tened or non-circular portion" '28 thereon, whichportion reglsters with the loop 12on' the spring retalner, whlch 1s,ofcourse, of

corresponding formation. o

From a consideration' 'off Figure 3 1 31 ticularly,"it will be apparentthat the'loop portion 12 onthe spring retainer 11 is formed withanelongated aperture 29 therein,which extends substantially longitudinallywithirer' specttosaid-retainer so that the pintle is adapted forinsertion therein when the @1011;

gatedor non-circularvportion28 thereof ex tends longitudinally withrespect, to the spring retaine'r ll. 'The loop 9 onthelidr 8,

on the contrary, is, formed with an elongated f or, non-circularaperture which extends transversely withrespect-tosaid lid. ,Bo'th oftheapertures 29' and 30.are formed o'fsub-f st'antiallythe'same length asthe elongated and 12 when the springv retainer 11 is ars rangedsubstantially at right'angleswith re spect to the lid Son in suchfaposition. that 7 portion 28 on they hinge pin and of awidth le'ss'than',the length of said elongatediporthe elongated apertures' 29. and 30 are'arranged to substantially coincide, as shown-in Figures? 7 The aperture4: through the hinge lug preferably circular and adaptedfor receivingthe circular portion of the hinge pin 5 and preventing theno n-circularor elongated portion 28 thereof from passing'therethrongh. The loop 13on rtheuretainer isformed in sub; stantia'lly'the same way and the loop1Q onthe 'lidmay be correspondingly formed'although itiis preferablyformed, elongated, as shown 7 t Figure 4, e 'r i di -lvi h he l op; 9

shown in Figure 3, but merely for the pur tion, the hingepin 5 can onlybe inserted in position and removed from position when the retainer 11and lid 8 occupy substantially the relative positions illustrated inFigure 3, in which the sectional axes of the aperture 29 and 3-0 throughthe loo-p portions 12 and 9, respectively, are substantially parallelwith other.

After insertion of the hinge pin 5, the spring retainer 11 is preferablymoved to the position shown in Figure 2, when it is resiliently lockedin place with respect to the lid 8, by engagement of the spring 14 inthe pocket or pockets 2a of the retainer. When such is eifected, thehinge pin 5 is locked in position and no auxiliary locking deviceor-cotter is necessary for preventing loss or undesired removal of saidhmge pm, because it cannot move to the left on account of the length ofthe non-circular portion 28 being greater than the width of thenon-circular aperture 30, and it cannot move to the right because thelength of said portion 28 is greater than the diameter of the aperture 1,in the hinge lug 3.

Another desirable feature accomplished by the present construction ofpintle or hinge pin, is that, because of the cooperation between theelongated portion 28, on said pin, and the aperture 29 through the loopportion 12 on the retainer, rotation between said members is preventedand said pintle there fore always occupies the same relative positionwithrespect to said retainerand, when in operative relation, the samerelative position with respect to the lid also.

The side edges of the lid 8 are preferably formed with downwardlyextending flanges 31and 32. The lower edge of said lid is advantageouslyprovided with a lip portion 33 for conveniently opening and closing thesame. If formed of pressed metal, the lid 8 is preferably corrugated orembossed, as shown, for rigidifying the same.

The upper portion of the spring retainer 11 is preferably rea-rwardlyextended, as

shown in Figure 2, forming a flanged or hooded portion 34 which overliesthe roller member 18 in the upper edge of the lid 8 H for excludingforeign-matter from the journal box. The rearward edge of this flange 34is preferably reinforced by means of a rib 35 which also serves fordraining water from the flange 34. 7

When assembled, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the construction of thevarious parts is such that an operator may open the lid by graspingeither the lip 33 or the spring retainer 11 at the end of the operatingarm .125 thereof, because the force required to move the spring retainerrespect to the lid is greater than that, required to move the lid withrespectto the journal box.

In Figures 6 and 7 a modification of my, invention is illustrated, inwhich a lid 8 is shown pivotally connected with respect to a journal box1 by means of a hinge pin 5 which is of similar construction to thatdisclosed in connection with Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. The springretainer 11 however, although pivotally connected with respect to thejour-.

nal box 8 in a manner similar to that here tofore described, is ofsomewhat different construction. It is provided with a flange orhook'36whichis retained or held by means of'a latch member 21 which ispreferably pivotally connected with respect to the lid 8 by means of'arivet 22 The spring 14?, in thismodification, is formed as heretofore,with a plurality of of larger diameter, as illustrated. A relativelystraight portion 17 connects said coiled portions 15 and 16, but insteadof bein rovided with a roller as in the preb -u'u I l I viousmocuficatlon, is formed with a wear plate 18 which engages with thefaces 6 and .7 on the hinge lug 3 in a manner similar toy that describedin connection with the first modification.

The ends of the spring are preferably only continued downwardly a shortdistance where they are held in pockets 37 and 38 in the spring retainer11 rather than as heretion with respect to the retainer 11 when said 1retainer is angularly disposed with respect to the lid 8 Said springretainer, after positioning the spring so as to be held in the pocket 21 and the securing pockets 3? and 38, is then rotated about the pintle 5to the position illustrated in Figure 7, where it is locked inplace'with respect to the lid 8 by moving the latch 21 from the positionshown in dot anddash lines, to that illustrated in full lines in Figure6. Althougn this operation of stressing the spring to lock the retainerand spring in position, may be effected by manually pressing the lowerportion coiled portions 15 and 16 which may be of the spring retainer,yet, if desired, a lever An upper aperture 27 may locked in, place inthe same manner as described in connection with the first modifi cation.That is, it is necessary that the spring retainer and'lid occupy anangular relation with respect to each other, as illustrated in Figure 3,in which positionthe pin is freely movable longitudinally to .or fromposition.

lVhen positioned, the retainer may then be moved to overlie the lid, asshown in Fig-' ure 7, and held in place by the spring 149, and alsolooked in place by means of the latch 21 When the retainer and lidoccupy such relative positions, the hinge pin is held locked in place bythe elongated portion 28 thereon, as described in connection with thefirst modification. p r

a Except as specificallydescribed'in connection with Figures 6 and 7 themodification there illustrated, is substantially the sameas thatillustrated in Figures lv'to 5, lncluslve, a hood portion 34 ofcorresponding construction,'being also provided as in thevfirstmodification. v A

In Figures 8 and 9, a modificationof my invention is illustrated inwhich the hinge pin orpintle is formed as a straight cylindrical pin ofuniform diameter rather than bybeing constructed of the selflock1ngtypev as shownin the previous embodiments. The advantage of thisconstruction is a'cheapening of the pin 5* but, as such a pin s notselflocking, it must be retained in place by some auxiliary means as,for example, locking tabs 40 and llprovided on the hinging ears or loops9 and 10 respectively, of the lid. Preferably one of the tabs, forexample, is

. normally in looking position as shown in Figres ondin bin in ortions12 and 13 P g g g P thereon, and locked in place by bending the tab 41over the aperture in the ear 10 or to r a position corresponding withthat of the tab 40, as shown in Figure 8. It is to be understood thatsuch tabs may also be used on" lids constructed in accordance withFigures'l to 7, inclusive. As in the previous modifications, the lid ispreferably formed of pressed metal although the corrugations or emboss-'ments thereon may be of slightly diiferent configuration, asillustrated,

The spring retainer 11 'is preferably formed quite similar to thatillustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, but, of course, the

apertures through the ear or loop portions 12 and 13 need not beelongated but are merely of an appropriate size for fitting theeylindrical pin 5 The hingeloops or ears 9 and 10 maybe formedwithapertures therethrough just big enough to fit thepin 5 1 but saidapertures are preferably elongated, as shown in Figure 9, correspondingwith the constructionof the loop 10 shown in Figure l, merely for thepurpose of allowingplay to permit the lid 8 to seat properly on the faceof the journal box 1.- The spring 14: preferably correspondssubstantially with the spring 14 of the first embodiment and ispreferably provided with an anti-friction roller 18? which engages thehinge lug 3 in a manner similar tothat described in connection with thefirst embodiment.

The ends of the spring MUnay be retained in pivotal relationwith respecttothe lid 8 by means of a clamping device 21 which is preferablysecurely fastened to the lid by meansof' rivets 22 and holds the ends 19and 20 of the spring-14 in a corrugated or grooved portion 42 formed inthe face of the lid 8 I As in the first described embodiment of myinvention, the spring is gradually energized,

after pivotal connection to the face of the lid' by means of theclamping device-21 by mov ing the spring retainer l1 from a.- positionpro ecting from orangularly disposed with respect to the lid 8 to theposition illustrated in Figure Qduring which movement 'the' coils 15 and16 of the spring liiare engagedby the curved or cam shaped surfaceorsurfaces 23 thereby gradually tensioning'or stressing the spring,until the coils "15 and 16 engage andlock in the pocket or pockets '24:in the retainerll Except as specifically described and illustrated, themodification shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be substan- V 't allyidentical with'the modification shown in Figures '1 to 5, inclusive.

By virtue of the foregoing construction, it will be apparent that aspring-actuated articulated lid has been provided which i's read ilyoperated by hand for energizing and deenergizing the spring and whichhasmeans thereon for efiiciently-excluding dirt and other foreign matterfrom the journal box. The pintle 'or hinge pin is either plain orselflocking so that itv may onlybe moved into or out of position whenthe spring retainer and lid occupy angular er than normal.

Another desirable feature is that, because of the engagement between thenon-circular portion on the pintleand the cooperating loop ontheretainer, said pintle and retainer, as well as the lid, when thefpartsare arranged in normal operative relation, are all retained andprevented from angular motion therebetween so thatundesired wear isprevented. The spring pressure tending to' force the lid toward thejournal box is exerted sub- ;stant1ally centrally and, provision beingmade for allowing angling between said spring and lid, atight'engagement will-be effected between all edges of the lid andjournal box. 7 i

or relative positions oth-' Having now described my invention, I I

claim 1. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lidprovided with loop portions, a spring retainer provided with a pluralltyof loop portions registering with the loop portions of the lid, one ofsaid loop portions 7 being substantially circular and the othernon-circular in section, with a dimension larger than the diameter ofthe circular loop portion, and a pintle of generally circularsection'corresponding to that of the loop portions, connecting said box,lid and retainer, provided with a non-circular portion correspondingtothat of the non-circular loop on the retainer, the lid loop portionadjacent the non-circular retainer loop portion being non-circular withits short dimension normally disposed substantially in the axial planeof the long dimension of the non-circular retainer loop and smaller thansaid long dimension, whereby said pintle is adapted for longitudinalmovement with respect to the lid loop portions when the retainer ismoved from normal cooperating engagement with respect to the lid, andprevented from such movement, or locked in position, when said retainerand lid occupy normal relative positions.

2. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug with a cylindricalaperture, a lid with hinge loops, a spring retainer with cooperatingloops, a hinge pin, of a diameter corresponding generally to that ofsaidlug aperture, extending through the lug, lid and retainer loops forpivotally connecting said members, one of the loops on the retainer,

that portion of the pin normally received therein, and the adjacent lidloop being larger in one transverse dimension than the lug aperturediameter, the large dimension of the lid loop being normally disposedatan angle to the large dimension of the retainer loop, and the shortdimension of said lid loop being smaller than the large transversedimension of the pin so that longitudinal movement of the pin throughthe lid loop or. lug aperture is prevented when the lid and pin aredisposed in normal operative relation, but such movement through the lidloop is permitted when one of said members is rotated a predeterminedamount with respect to the other.

3. In combination, a journal box having an apertured hinge lug, a lidprovided with hinge loops, a spring retainer with cooperating hingeloops, a spring adapted for actuating said lid and holding the same inopen or closed position, said spring being normally disposed betweensaid retainer and lid and serving to hold said retainer in normalposition with respect to said lid, a pintle extending through thejournal box lug, and loops on the lid and retainer for pivotallyconnecting said members, one of the loops on the retainer, a portion ofthe pintle received therein, and the adjacent lid retainer loop beingextended laterally, the extension of the pintle and retainer loop beingnormally transverse to the extension of the adjacent lid loop, and thelong dimension of the extended portion of said pintle being greater thanthe short transverse dimension of the adjacent lid loop, wherebylongitudinal mally circular in'section extending through i the journalbox lug and the loops on the lid and retainer for pivotally connectingsaid members, one of the loops on the retainer and the normally enclosedportion of the pin, being extended laterally beyond the normal surfaceof said pin so that pivotal motion therebetween is normally prevented,the ad j acent lid loop having a corresponding lateral extensionnormally disposed at an angle to the extension on the pin so that saidpin .will then be held from longitudinal movement therethrough, suchlongitudinal movement being permitted only when said retainer and pinare disposed in a predetermined abnormal angular relation with respectto said lid when the lateral extension on the pin registers with that ofthe lid loop.

5. In combination, a journal box having an apertured hinge lug, a lidwith retainer loops, a spring retainer with cooperating loops, a hingepin extending through the journal box lug and the loops on the lid andretainer for pivotally connecting said members, one of said retainerloops and that part of the pin therein being laterally extended so thatrotation therebetween is prevented,

the adjacent lid loop having a corresponding extension normally disposedat an angle to the pin and retainer extension so that passage of the pinthrough said loop is prevented when the parts are in normal position,but permitted when said pin and lid loop are disposed in abnormalangular relationship.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

' GLENN F. COUCH.

